Massive tents for massive event

Carpa 10 helped World Youth Day 2011 safely host
two million in Madrid.

When event organizers expect more than a million attendees, including VIPs of the stature of Pope Benedict XVI and the Spanish royal family, the safety and security for all tent installations is of utmost importance. That was the challenge for tent rental company Carpa 10 of Spain when it installed structures for World Youth Day in Madrid in August 2011.

World Youth Day is a weeklong youth-oriented Roman Catholic international gathering. Initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985, it is held every two to three years in a different location. Official estimates report that two million people participated in an all-night vigil during the 2011 event.

With safety and comfort in mind, Carpa 10 installed 10 clearspan tents with a total area of about 4,500 square meters along with furnishings and decor. This included:

• 15-by-90-meter press center. Carpa 10 supplied all of the necessary elements to transform this tent into a temporary international media center for 434 accredited news agencies.
• 15-by-75-meter VIP hospitality tent with bar and restaurant.
• 20-by-30-meter stage on 5.5-meter-high scaffolding for the 170-voice Orfeón Donostiarra, one of Europe’s most highly regarded amateur choirs.
• 10-by-30-meter tent for ecclesiastical authorities.
• 10-by-30-meter tent for bishops.
• 5-by-10-meter tent that served as a reception area for the Spanish royal family, politicians and celebrities.
• additional tents for event staff, catering and dressing areas for musicians and choir members.

Negotiations to win the contract were long because of the event requirements, Sánchez says. Planning and design required a couple of months, and installation required three weeks. A summer storm with strong winds threatened the event, but all Carpa 10 structures remained safe and erect.

“This helps to confirm that we are a leading company in Spain in the field of events with tents that ensure safety,” Sánchez says.